(City of Auburn Hills, April 12, 2025)
Auburn Hills, MI – On Monday evening, March 17, 2025, City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the burning of yard waste within city limits. The ordinance will become effective on June 1, 2025.
This initiative is driven by our commitment to:
- Improving Air Quality: Leaf burning releases harmful pollutants into the air, impacting respiratory health and overall well-being. Leaf smoke can irritate the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, especially for children and seniors.
- Protecting the Environment: Smoke from leaf burning contributes to air pollution and can negatively impact local ecosystems.
- Ensuring Compliance with State Law: Michigan State Law prohibits the open burning of yard waste or leaves in any municipality having a population of 7,500 or more (MCL Section 324.11539).
As a reminder, our contracted waste hauling service, Priority Waste, provides curbside leaf collection weekly from April 1 through the second full week of December. Residents may use paper yard waste bags or containers up to 95 gallons in capacity with a proper sticker facing the street (100-pound weight limit). Other alternatives to open burning include composting leaves and grass clippings, or using leaves and grass clippings for mulch.
If you are a senior citizen or disabled homeowner who needs help raking leaves, volunteers in our Rake and Run program will clean and rake yards for eligible residents. Call (248) 370-9353 to have your name placed on an interest list.
While the city is taking steps to eliminate leaf burning for improved air quality, it’s important to note that recreational outdoor wood burning will still be permitted under specific guidelines. These regulations ensure safety by requiring wood burning to take place in approved units like fire pits or chimineas with dry and seasoned firewood.
